(225) 766-8484
Call (225) 766-8484Contact us
Offshore injuries

Louisiana Offshore Injury Lawyer

Offshore work is some of the most dangerous work in Louisiana. If you were hurt on a rig, platform or vessel in the Gulf, the law that covers your injury depends on where you were and what you were doing, and we can help you sort it out.

  • Free consultation
  • Talk directly with an attorney
  • Serving Baton Rouge and the surrounding parishes
Call (225) 766-8484Send us a message

Which law covers an offshore injury?

TODO: attorney to verify the OCSLA and Longshore statements on this page.

Offshore injury claims can fall under several federal laws, and many workers have more than one possible claim:

  • The Jones Act covers seamen who work aboard vessels, including drilling vessels, jack-up rigs, liftboats and crew and supply boats. See maritime and Jones Act injuries.
  • The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) (43 U.S.C. § 1331 et seq.) extends protections to workers injured on fixed platforms and structures on the Outer Continental Shelf.
  • The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) benefits apply to many OCSLA claims.
  • Third-party claims may be available against companies other than your employer whose negligence caused the injury.

Injuries on fixed platforms and structures (OCSLA)

OCSLA can apply to workers injured on structures such as:

  • Oil and gas production platforms
  • Fixed drilling rigs
  • Offshore wind turbine installations
  • Subsea pipeline work areas

If you were injured working on one of these structures, you may be entitled to benefits similar to the LHWCA, including weekly disability payments, medical treatment, vocational rehabilitation and permanent disability compensation.

You may also have a separate personal injury claim against a third party for full damages, including past and future lost wages, pain and suffering, mental anguish, medical expenses and loss of earning capacity.

How we handle offshore injury cases

When you hire us, we:

  • Investigate which company or companies caused the injury
  • Find out why the incident happened and how it could have been prevented
  • File in federal or state court, depending on what best protects you
  • Prepare every case for trial, and go to trial if the defendants will not pay what your case is worth

Offshore workers we represent

We have represented roustabouts, floorhands, crane operators, engineers, electricians, painters, welders, laborers and other oilfield personnel who suffered serious, life-changing injuries offshore. We understand OCSLA, Longshore and Jones Act law, and we know how to build cases against multiple defendants, including large energy companies and the lawyers who defend them.

Common offshore injuries

TODO: attorney to confirm this list of injury types for offshore cases.

  • Back, neck and spinal cord injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Crush injuries and amputations
  • Burns from fires and explosions
  • Falls from heights or between vessels
  • Injuries from crane, rigging and pipe-handling accidents
  • Wrongful death
Common questions

Offshore Injury: questions we hear

I was hurt on a fixed platform. Am I covered by the Jones Act?

Usually a fixed platform is not a vessel, so workers injured on one are often covered by OCSLA and Longshore benefits rather than the Jones Act. But many offshore workers split time between platforms and vessels, and the details of your job matter. Talk with an attorney before you assume which law applies.

TODO: attorney review of this answer.

Can I sue someone other than my employer?

Often, yes. Offshore jobs usually involve several companies, including operators, contractors, vessel owners and equipment manufacturers. If another company's negligence caused your injury, you may have a separate claim against it.

How soon should I talk with a lawyer?

As soon as you can. Offshore incidents are usually investigated quickly by the companies involved, and evidence, witnesses and records can be hard to track down later.

Free consultation

Talk with an attorney about what happened

Call now to talk with an attorney who will listen, or send a message and we will get back to you. There is no cost to find out where you stand.

Call (225) 766-8484

Bateman McDonald Law Firm
6700 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70806

Please enter your name.
Please enter a phone number we can reach you at.
Please check your email address.
A few sentences is plenty. Please don't include anything confidential.

Sending this form does not create an attorney-client relationship. If it's urgent, call (225) 766-8484.